Israel Threatens Palestinian Phone Service Over War Crimes Claims

Ben Lynfield | The Independent

Israel is threatening to kill off a crucial West Bank economic project unless the Palestinian Authority withdraws a request to the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged Israeli crimes during last winter's Gaza war.

Shalom Kital, an aide to defence minister Ehud Barak, said today that Israel will not release a share of the radio spectrum that has long been sought by the Palestinian Authority to enable the launch of a second mobile telecommunications company unless the PA drops its efforts to put Israeli soldiers and officers in the dock over the Israeli operation.

"It's a condition. We are saying to the Palestinians that 'if you want a normal life and are trying to embark on a new way, you must stop your incitement," Mr. Kital said. "We are helping the Palestinian economy but one thing we ask them is to stop with these embarrassing charges."

As long as the Wataniya Mobile company is unable to begin its operations, communications costs are likely to remain inordinately high for Palestinian businesses and individuals. But thwarting the company benefits four unauthorized Israeli operators who make sizeable profits in the Palestinian market using infrastructure they have set up in the illegal Israeli settlements across the West Bank.

The Qatari-owned Wataniya had begun making what was planned as the second largest private investment in West Bank history - to total seven hundred million dollars. But amid frustration at more than two years of Israeli foot-dragging over the frequencies it is now warning that if forced to miss its launch date of 15 October it may close down West Bank operations and seek the return from the Palestinian Authority of its $140m licensing fee and other damages. Mr Kital said the possibility of Wataniya closing "is something the PA will have to take into consideration."

"This is sheer blackmail by the Israelis," said Nabil Shaath, the former PA foreign minister. "Israel has no business stealing the frequencies, keeping them and using them as blackmail to escape an international inquiry into its violations."

Nearly 1400 Palestinians, most of whom were not taking part in the hostilities, were killed during the Gaza war, according to the Israeli human rights group B'tselem. Fourteen Israelis died, some from Hamas rocket fire that Israel says forced it to mount its operation. A UN probe released last month found that both Israel and Hamas had committed "war crimes".

Mr Shaath said the PA would not back down over the matter."The Palestinians in Gaza suffered greatly and we are responsible for them. We are the aggrieved party. Israeli soldiers and those who gave orders should be questioned and be liable to prosecution."

The Palestinian request to the ICC dates back eight months. But Israeli concern over international legal steps has intensified since the UN commission, headed by South African judge Richard Goldstone, concluded that the Israeli military judicial system did not meet international legal standards of independence and impartiality. It called for the ICC to activate an indictment process within six months unless the country mounts its own credible investigations of its troops actions.

The Israeli stance on the frequencies marks a flouting of the efforts of the international community's Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, who last month urged that they be released and warned of harm to the local economy if Israel persisted in its refusal. Mr Kital said today that Mr Blair "is very aware" there will be no release unless the Palestinians drop their request to the ICC.

Read more at The Independent

Comments

[karmafriend]

Collective punishment is a war crime, so Israel threatens to commit a war crime to squash an investigation of war crimes?

unfreakinb­elievable!

[gakabani]

another war crime then!

[jordanispalestine]

Gee..those PALS sure are nice folks! What's that???The Pals were ALSO implicated and involved in war crimes??? Oh..I see!

[jordanispalestine]

The Pals already halted the inquiry...NOT because of this mallarky...but because THEY were ALSO accused of was crimes in the same report!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[jwcmass]

Actually, it was the US that pressured the PA to not support the Goldstone Report before the UN Human Rights Commission.

The US has claimed it is in the interest of the peace process, but I would argue that (like South Africa) there needs to be SOME reckoning (on the part of BOTH sides) as part of a comprehensive peace process.

I also stated that the US has reasons of its own for not wanting this to go forward.

As terrible as what the IDF and Hamas stand accused of in the Goldstone Report, it pales in comparison with the recent activities (by recent i mean the previous 8 years) the US has comitted.

Obama really wants to avoid a thorough investigation (and prosecution) of the whole Torture program. (of which many details are still kept secret). Obama has this policy for two reasons, 1) he thinks it will harm the US's goals in the region, by further angering Muslim and Arab moderates,
and 2) he has his own agenda that he is working on, and doesn't want a HUGE distraction that, say the prospect of Bush and Cheney being tried would be.

While I sympathise with his goals, I don't agree with his actions, because the rule of law cannot be ignored. No person is above the law-- and the best deterrent for anyone who tries to use torture in the future is to prosecute those who have committed or authorized it in this case.

[jwcmass]

Jordan,

I need to add here, because you seem unaware of it, that it is the PA, which in the West Bank is Fatah dominated, and led by Mahmoud Abbas, that is/was/maybe will be -- pressing for this investigation.

They had NOTHING to do with the actions in GAZA. The Palestinians responsible for war crimes there is HAMAS. And, in case you haven't noticed (perhaps you missed the violent coup in Gaza carried out by Hamas against Fatah) these two factions of Palestinians are hardly "buddy-buddy"

I'm sure Abbas would like nothing more than to see his Hamas enemies held accountable along with the IDF.

[jordanispalestine]

Abbas?? The Holocaust denier?? Oh THAT Arab leader!!

[Freenation]

the report should be labeled: once again palestinians suffer from the occupiers

[jwcmass]

I would only add that this occupation is so destructive to BOTH sides-- that of the occupied, of course, but also that of the occupier.

Perhaps the worst of it is that it is the youngest on each side who bear the brunt. Hundreds of Palestinian children and youths have been killed and imprisoned, but bear in mind that the IDF forces carrying out the occupation are made up of young conscripts, still in their teens themselves.

plus, the occupation is eroding Israel's democracy-- the political structure is fragmenting into more and more parties, making it more and more difficult to govern, and now we have had bills proposed that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago-- bills that would strip Israeli Arabs (Israel loves to boast about how well they treat their Arabs-- the truth is another matter entirely) of their citizenship. The bill didn't pass-- this time, but the very fact that it was introduced, and by the third largest party in Israel is disturbing in and of itself.

for both these the sake of Israelis AND Palestinians this occupation ( actually a double occupation-- military AND settler) must come to an end.

[pjean]

Goes to show you that Israel can do what they want when they want. It's sad that a group of people that were discriminated against treat others so bad. All I can say is what goes around comes around and the higher up you are, the harder your wall. Thus Israel will someday lose their position of power and when that happens, I'm sure those who discriminated against the Palestinians will want the sympathy that they never extended to the Palestinians. There will never be peace in the middle east until one of these races are completely removed which is sad because people should be able to live in harmony. They have or many years made us believe that this is about religion when it's NOT!!! when will people of the world wake up to that fact???? no one knows.

[balrog221]

who are the extortionists?

[greatscot]

So the Palestinians demanding an inquest on Israeli war crimes is "incitement". Well, maybe to an Israeli its incitement, but to nobody else! The Israelis are so blatant and in your face about it, I just find myself praying for their come-uppance. And why is the U.S. not protesting the Israeli power-play? This is a stark reminder of why Palestinians need their own country!

[jwcmass]

THe reason the US isn't calling Israel on this one is simple--

The US knows that if ISRAELI leaders can be hauled before the ICC, then AMERICAN leaders (particularly those who institute torture programs0 can ALSO be hauled before the ICC.

In other words, it's all about hypocrisy.

I can understand why Obama doesn't want this to happen-- he's smart enough of a politician to know that if it does, ALL the focus of the media will be on such trials, and will hurt his chances to get his agenda through Congress.

I can sympathise with those goals, but not with the current policy. Part of his job is to see that the rule of law is upheld, and to investigate and prosecute (if necessary) crimes--in this case, war crimes.

And I don't think most Americans yet know just how serious these crimes are. But that is no excuse to go running from the truth-- or worse, just trying to cover it up and "move forward"

The only way to go here (in order to insure the rule of law) is to uncover the truth-- no matter where that leads.

That goes for the US, Israel, Hamas-- no matter who the perpetrators are.

Any war criminal or would -be war criminal ought not to be able to sleep secure in their beds, thinking that they can get away with their crimes.

[MarcusT]

This is how you create terrorism.

[balrog221]

correct...extend an olive branch... and proceed to whip your adversary with it.

[CoronaDischarge]

A rather disturbing quid pro quo.

Israel looks like they continue to stumble in refusing to investigate the Goldstone claims, and would employ extortion to quieten complaints by refusing to allow cell phone service? A rather petty response I'd say, instead of addressing the claims for instance.

I think Israel would do well to understand that their imagined goals are not necessarily shared by all America. Merely because Palestinians would have provoked them first, doesn't automatically exonerate them as to their own actions.

[misaacm]

Hmmm, I don't seem to remember all this noise over the Arab's anti-Israel boycott, now 60 years old. I must have missed it.

The Palestinians want to keep all of their hate and anti-Israel activity, supported by the 22 Arab dictatorships, but want Israel to roll over for them. The Pals have to prove to Israel that they will be peaceful if they are given control of the West Bank. Based upon their behavior in Gaza, and their support of every screaming anti-Israel activity everywhere, they aren't "selling" themselves as good neighbors. Don't expect good will from Israel if this keeps up.

[MarcusT]

"22 Arab dictatorships" Could you list them for me please.

[jwcmass]

ANd just what "good will" has Israel shown to the Palestinians so far?

Look, there is one thing Israel can do to show they are serious about peace-- they can withdraw the settlers from the west Bank.

If they are unsure of whether the PA (whose standing among its own people would be made much more secure by such a move, by the way) is able to maintain security-- then the IDF can remain -- to guarantee that security and to train those Palestinians committed to peace.

Things like joint patrols and so forth, to ensure that Hamas doesn't go forcefully into the West Bank.

But I woould also hold out the olive branch to Hamas (yes, Hamas) -- and tell them they can be part of the process, PROVIDED they disarm. Let them participate POLITICALLY -- just as Sinn Fein did when their military branch-- the IRA-- disarmed.

[JohnnyLee]

If the Israelis are such horrible war criminals why would they give the Palestinians a cell-phone service?

[StCuthbert]

And hundreds of tons of food and medicine every month in Gaza.

[Thabit]

Israelis dont "give " that aid , they let it pass their lines only from other givers

[ray01]

and threaten to fire on ships bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza if they try to outrun
the Israeli blockcade.

[jordanispalestine]

Why give your enemies who want to exterminate you ...ANYTHING???

[cinesimon]

That is so disgusting.
When are the Israeli people going to stand up to these extremist, racist right wing factions in the IDF and government?
Until Israel deals with their extremist problem, they have no moral standing or authority to demand same from anyone else.
Along with blackmailing the Palestinians to halt war criminals being brought to trial, they have essentially suppressed by politics the latest UN report into the Gaza massacre.
This behavior cannot go on. The people behaving this way are only doing Israel a huge disservice. Apart from satisfying blood lust and racism, I don't understand what their actions accomplish. If the IDF controlled the animals committing war crimes within their ranks, then they would not need to bully and blackmail people, agencies and entire nations in these pathetic efforts to cover up such horrific crimes.

[whypassword]

and Israel once again gets its way . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/world/middleeast/02mideast.html?_r=1&ref=world

Palestinians Halt Push on War Report

UNITED NATIONS — In a startling shift, the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council dropped its efforts to forward a report accusing Israel of possible war crimes to the Security Council, under pressure from the United States, diplomats said Thursday.

depending on who you are . . . bullying works

[lkim65]

And many wonder why there is so much contention over a little sliver of particular land that Isreal wants to control and the Palestians do no want them to control. This little particular piece of land has the 'water rights.' If Israel were to have sole control, they would be more than willing to blackmail the Palestinians with water cutoff if the Palestinians complained about anything...

[amdezurik]

again